Page 91 of Forbidden Magic
My heart sinks.
Missing curfew. Dirt under his nails. No heat signature going in and out of my room in the last twenty-four hours.
I think I found my bloodroot thief.
35
Truth and Dare
“What are you doing here, Trent?” I ask with my hand firmly holding the front door.
I’ve just finished my exams for the day, and the last thing I need is a repeat from yesterday’s drama. I don’t resent Trent for Olson’s actions, but there is no doubt in my mind that he’s the one who tried to frame me for the bloodroot theft. And while I understand he was enchanted to act like a murderous maniac, the memories from last night aren’t quite that easy to brush off.
The vampire looks taken aback by the steel in my voice. His brown hair is oily, and he hasn’t shaved in a few days. “They insisted I come. To officially apologize.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “For biting me or for setting me up?”
His shoulders sag with a sense of complete abdication. “I’m sorry, Jules.”
My hand flies to my forehead, my chest all out of rage. “You know what, I don’t even want to hear your reasons. You are the worst of them, pretending to care only to stab me in the back.”
“You’d be safer elsewhere,” he says with a wince.
A dry snicker dies on my lips. “You want me to believe you care about my safety?”
“Clearly, you don’t.”
“Clearly.”
He turns on his heels, his fists balled at his sides, but he stops cold at the top of the porch’s stairs. “You’re not the first Winslow to spread your legs for him, you know.”
I flip him off.
“Allie is no better. She had her tongue down Cole’s throat in record time on Halloween. They giggled their way up the North path and never looked back. I should have known he’d want to perfect his score card, but I can’t wrap my mind around why she hasn’t told you.”
“You’re lying,” I croak, thinking he’s just trying to spook me.
“You can see for yourself.” He offers me his hand, his tongue tucked under his right canine. He scratches a bloody line in his neck and raises a brow.
“You must think I’m an idiot.” I want to slam the door in his face and not look back. But if he’s telling the truth, I need to know. If he could shed some light on the mystery of what happened to Allie on Halloween, I can’t turn my back on the opportunity.
“There’s no other way to do this. You drink my blood; I drink yours.”
A shudder runs through me when I lick the droplets on his neck. He tastes coppery but sweet, and my mouth waters for more. I gather my thick mane to the side and bare my neck. “Do it. Show me everything you remember.”
The puncture wounds from yesterday are still fresh, and I bite back a groan of pain.
Images flash behind my lids as Trent takes me through his memories from Halloween.
Allie is dressed to impress, wearing a cute black cat costume, her blouse tied underneath her breasts. She’s hanging with Mel by the kegs when Flynn hops over to her.
“Hey, Allie. Serve us a glass,” the Fae asks, drinking in Mel’s cleavage in the process.
Allie pours the beer for Flynn and Cole. I can practically see her shaking.
Flynn snatches her wrist and pulls her forward to the bonfire. “Come and sit with us.”
Mel rolls her eyes and stomps off.
